These agreements prevented the recurrence of many of the early differences between the governor and the company, but they could not stop the emergence of former abuses, as old as the subsidy system itself. In July, 1743, for example, Montiano pled again for the prompt delivery of the subsidy and complained about the high prices being charged his colony by the Havana Company. Twenty-five pounds of flour, he stated, cost only 16 reales in Mexico City; he paid 20 reales for the same amount. Not long after, the governor pointed out that the Havana Company had shipped a cargo of spoiled meat to Saint Augustine, which the governor refused to accept. Dispatching his own agent to Havana, Montiano obtained good beef eight reales a side cheaper than the price agreed upon in his supply contract with the company. Periodic disappearance or seizure of situado ships was still another problem. In January, 1745... (Tepaske GSF)